Putting on machines

摘要

The pending introduction of new safety legislation is further increasing pressure on machinery and system designers. Festo product manager Steve Sands looks at Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and previews some state-of-the-art pneumatics safety technology designed to help system manufacturers minimise the risk of accidents. On the 29th December 2009, Machinery Directive 98/37/EC will be superseded by Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Although this is two years hence, there will be no transition period - all EU countries are required to have incorporated the directive into national law by the end of 2009. Among other things, the directive stipulates various health and safety requirements for the design and construction of machines; machinery safety standard DIN EN ISO 13849-1, for example, which covers the general principles of safety-related parts of control systems and replaces EN 954-1, was harmonised with the Machinery Directive back in May, 2007.